The goal for a majority of mixed martial artists is to get to the big stage; the Broadway of the fight game, if you will. Those on the amateur level dream of one day being on the UFC’s roster, as do those already fighting on the professional circuit.

Some get to the top of the MMA world, but let’s be honest in saying a very small percentage of fighters make it to the big stage. It’s not an easy road to travel, and not everyone is built for the journey from “point A” to “point success.”

Some, though, have a hunger that outweighs whatever stress they experience when climbing the MMA mountain. Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt Alexander Crispim is one of those hungry fighters that, after nearly two decades of training, is still looking for his piece of the pie.

“I’ve been training for 18 years,” Crispim told MMAWeekly.com. “I got into jiu-jitsu when I was 16 years old at the Gracie Academy.”

While in Brazil as a youth, Crispim began training in Brazilian jiu-jitsu because he, admittedly, lacked a bit of confidence in himself and wanted to use the art form to “pick himself up.” After watching the competition and experiencing training first-hand, he discovered that jiu-jitsu was what he needed in order to complete himself and have a good time with life.

Fighters have different reasons for doing what they do. Some fell into fighting, others have nothing better to do. Crispim, however, fights for the simple joy of it, according to him.

“It’s fun,” he said. “I like that rush, that adrenaline to go over there (and) get in the cage and look into the eyes of the other guy and know that he wants to hurt me. But I’m so confident, I know he cannot.”

Though you might not have ever heard of him, Alexander isn’t all that new to the fight game. Beginning his career in 2006 and sporting a 6-2 record, Crispim has had two fights in Strikeforce, while also spending some of his time in other smaller scale leagues. During that time, he kept three goals in mind. One of which was to fight in the UFC some day. The other two involved a more personal touch.

Fortunately, he’s been able to accomplish those two other goals. Now, only the prestige of being a featherweight in the Zuffa-owned mixed martial arts promotion remains.

“When I came to America, I had three dreams I wanted to achieve,” Crispm said. “(To get) to the UFC, have my family, and have my own academy. And I achieved two of them, which is my family and my own academy, so now I’m in the hunt for my UFC debut.”

Fighters such as Jose Aldo, Mark Hominick, and Chad Mendes currently preside over the UFC’s featherweight division. Aldo, of course, is the weight class’ champion, and was recently seen going the full five rounds of his title defense against Hominick at UFC 129: St-Pierre vs. Shields. After a hard-fought battle – and a hematoma on Hominick’s head that looked like Kuato from Total Recall – Aldo retained his title and now awaits his next opponent, which will likely be Mendes at UFC 133 in Philadelphia.

Alexander Crispim sees all these UFC athletes and, thanks to his growing confidence as a mixed martial artist, feels he can compete with any one of them. So grand has his confidence grown, Crispm truly believes he’ll be a champion in the UFC.

If Aldo were to be the one standing in front of him, Crispm’s confidence would not change and he sees himself being very capable of besting the champ.

“Oh, (expletive) yeah, man!” he said when asked if he’d be able to top Aldo. “I believe I’ll be the next featherweight champion in the UFC.”

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